EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SNOW DAYS

Many of you have inquired about procedures for teachers assigned on snow days and in extreme weather conditions. I want you to know that your voices have been heard. As you know, guidelines and snow-day protocols are promulgated by your employer, the Department of Education.

Those guidelines indicate the following: For school-based staff: Employees whose work All central and field office staff should report to assignment is in a school (e.g. Universal Literacy work or use annual leave. Coaches) should not report to work. The DOE’s staff emergency page at http://schools. For staff who normally report to central and nyc.gov/Employees/Emergency details everything field offices: While schools are closed, central you need to know in the event of severe weather. and field offices remain open including those offices It also indicates that “safety should be your highest located in school buildings. All central and field consideration in deciding whether or not to report office staff should report to work or use annual to work. All staff should use caution in determining leave. whether to report to work if the weather is bad.” Reporting to work on snow days or in extreme We understand that this is an important issue for weather conditions is not a grievable issue and is our chapter and we will continue to bring it to the not covered in our collective bargaining agreement. forefront so that the leadership can discuss it further. If you are not a school-based staff member, it is For now, you should make every effort to follow the your responsibility as a teacher assigned to report to directives of your supervisor. In the event of extreme your designated central or field office. This includes weather, I advise you to refer to the snow day and offices located in school buildings. extreme weather checklist for teachers assigned.

Visit the Teachers Assigned Chapter website

For the most up-to-date information from the UFT in the event of a snow day or extreme weather, visit the Teachers Assigned Chapter website at www.uft.org/chapters/teachers-assigned.

EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SNOW DAYS CHECKLIST

❏❏Talk to your supervisor. Find out what your location will be in advance of extreme weather conditions and remember to check with your DOE site for information as it becomes available. We will update you when appropriate, but directions on where to report should come from your supervisor.

❏❏Check the DOE’s staff emergency page at http://schools.nyc.gov/ Employees/Emergency. Be sure to check the page regularly for the most up-to-date information.

❏❏Make a travel plan. Arrange your travel in advance and incorporate alternatives for where to report pre-approved by your supervisor on an extreme weather day.

❏❏Use annual leave if you cannot report to work safely. A snow day can be counted as a personal day. If you have further questions, email me at [email protected]. Please remember to include your name, site location, job title, file number, borough, phone number and your non-DOE email address in your correspondence.

Teachers Assigned NOTE: Grievances for Chapter Representatives weather travel days are not Chapter Leader covered under our contract. If Shelia Laval-Friedman, you were unable to make it to [email protected] work, see the city’s latest Time and Leave Policy memo at Executive Board members: http://on.nyc.gov/2reuYKK. Dial-A-Teacher Field Coordinator Shayshana Gourdine, [email protected] Peer Intervention Program Coordinator Lynne Ann Kilroy, [email protected] PM Staffer Susana Martin, [email protected]

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